Using The Body’s Three Energy Systems For Golf

Fitness

Using The Body’s Three Energy Systems For Golf

The human body needs energy to move and do things. The human body has three energy systems that are used to generate the energy used by the body for different daily activities. It is important to note that these energy systems are not used exclusively and most activities use a mixture of all three systems. The three systems are known by a variety of names but the most common ones are the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) system, anaerobic system (also known as the glycolytic system) and the aerobic system. I will explain these below and then we will talk about how they relate to your golf and training.

The ATP system uses the energy that is stored in the muscles themselves and, as this is a very low level, can only be used for a very short time with the energy obtainable being very limited. The energy available via this system would be completely exhausted between around six to ten seconds and takes a few minutes of rest to replenish itself. This system is used as a first energy source for things such as jumping up to answer the phone, run away from danger or to catch a falling child. This system kicks in immediately but, as mentioned before, the payoff is the small amount of energy that is able to be accessed by this system.

The second energy system available to the body to use is the anaerobic system and this system kicks in once the ATP system has used up its stores. This system will keep you moving for around an extra minute or so before it also runs out of fuel. Use of this system will lead to a build up of hydrogen ions in the body which creates that familiar, and painful, burn we feel when we run 400m at close to maximal effort.

The third and final energy system to be used by the body is the aerobic system. This system, as the name suggests, utilises oxygen and, in fact, needs oxygen to actually work. This system is fuelled by fat and glucose and is the system that keeps us moving after the other two systems have failed. Although the oxidative system is continuously active and produces loads of energy, the process of converting fat into usable energy can take a while. Once it gets started, though, it’s your body’s most reliable engine over long periods of time. In a 10-second sprint your aerobic system is able to kick in only about 13 percent of the necessary energy; on an intense four-minute run, however, that figure rises to 80 percent.

So how does this relate to golf? The obvious answer is that we need to know which energy systems we use when playing golf and how we should train them to make them stronger and more efficient. Working out which energy systems we use should be obvious enough. As golfers we utilise the ATP system when swinging the club and the aerobic system for the majority of the other time during the round. Basically, our sport is slow activity interspersed with a number of maximal efforts (swings) so it makes sense for golfer to train both the ATP and aerobic energy systems.

To train the ATP system you need to be using close to your maximal effort for short periods of time with adequate rest between exercises. Medicine ball throws, short sprints and golf specific exercises (i.e. golf swings) can all be used to train the ATP system. The effort phase needs to last between eight to fifteen seconds with enough rest between efforts to fully recharge the energy system. This type of training can be dangerous for inexperienced people so I suggest you see a qualified trainer prior to undertaking this type of training.

The aerobic system is a little easier to train and you can start to train this system by moving more. Walking more in your daily life can help improve this energy system so I would encourage you to get outside and move more as often as you can. A more formalised way to train your aerobic system is interval training. This can be easily done on your favourite cardio machine in the gym or walking or jogging in your neighbourhood. Three to six one to five minute medium-high efforts with one to five minutes rest between sets is a nice simple formula to begin with and will see you on your way to improving your aerobic fitness.

As with all physical training, you should consult a qualified professional prior to starting any exercise program.

Until next time,

Brent

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

PGA Professional

Training & Education Coordinator
PGA Centre For Learning Performance
Melborne, Victoria, Australia

Email: [email protected]

 

Fitness Archives

Recovery Strategies

Recovery Strategies  In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible...

read more

Recovery

Recovery  This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even...

read more

TEAM MFG BLOG

Subscribe

Never miss a new post, article, or video!
Subscribe to our newsletter Chip Shots!

Recovery Strategies

Fitness

Recovery Strategies 

In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible chance of including effective recovery as part of your golf training program. The four areas that need to be addressed in a recovery program are hydration, fuelling, physical and psychological recovery. Below you will see some easy to use approaches that you can use in your own golf training.

Hydration is arguably the most important area as just a 1% drop in your hydration levels will negatively impact on your golf performance. Replacing the fluid lost during a round of golf is extremely important if you are playing several days in a row so it needs to be part of your recovery program. A simple way to monitor your fluid levels is to check your weight prior to and after your round of golf. Every kilogram of weight you have lost during the round is 1 litre of water you need to replace after the round. You need to replace a little more than what you have lost during the round to allow for urination so as a general rule you should replace 150% of what you have lost during the round. This means that a golfer who weighs 80kg prior to a round and 78kg after a round needs to drink three litres of water after the round to ensure they are fully hydrated for the round the next day.

Fueling is the next part of recovery and as golf is not as physically taxing as some other sports and is played at a pace that allows for snacking to occur on the course this is not as large an issue as it may be with some other sports. That being said it is important that you eat a balanced diet and fuel your body with healthy meals prior to and in between rounds. Lean protein and vegetables are a great evening meal between rounds to refuel carbohydrate stores as well as being easy to digest. It is important to ensure you plan your meals as it is easy to get caught in the fast food trap, especially if you are traveling for an event. Make sure you have access to cooking facilities and appropriate sources of food to avoid unhealthy choices.

Physical recovery is something we all can relate to as we have all finished a round at some stage and felt stiff, sore and tired. The easiest way to deal with this soreness is with massage and a qualified masseuse can be very beneficial in aiding recovery between rounds. Unfortunately, we can’t all afford to have such a person on call so there are a variety of self-massage techniques you can use. You can access self-massage strategies using foam rollers by clicking here or spikey balls by clicking here. Massage can also be used in conjunction with hydrotherapies such as hot and cold immersions to ensure a well-rounded physical recovery strategy is maintained. By alternating between a hot shower for one to two minutes and a cold burst for 30 seconds you will assist the recovery process. The shower also provided an ideal environment for self-massage.

The final area is psychological recovery. This is an area that is often unknowingly completed by golfers but it is often done very poorly. Most golfers will finish a round and retire to the clubhouse with their playing partners to relive the round and talk about all the shots that got away and the bad shots that they played. This discussion is a good thing but the focus on the bad shots is only going to make it easier to replay the same shots during the next round. A golfer needs to debrief after a round and “complete” the round from a psychological point of view. This can be done very effectively by using a debriefing work sheet (click here to find an example of one that I use). This sheet can then be used to start a conversation with your coach, playing partners or other friends. Once this conversation is over the player needs to get rid of the sheet (sometimes I have players rip them up!), focus on the positives of the round and refocus on the game plan for the next round.
Hopefully the above information gives you some help when you are next facing a tournament with golf on several consecutive days.

Until next time,

Brent Davis

Sources:  TPI, Brent Davis Golf, Perform Better

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

PGA Professional

Training & Education Coordinator
PGA Centre For Learning Performance
Melborne, Victoria, Australia

Email: [email protected]

 

Fitness Archives

Recovery Strategies

Recovery Strategies  In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible...

read more

Recovery

Recovery  This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even...

read more

TEAM MFG BLOG

Subscribe

Never miss a new post, article, or video!
Subscribe to our newsletter Chip Shots!

Recovery

Fitness

Recovery 

This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even for several days in a row. Recovery, when discussed in this format, is basically defined as an activity or series of activities that give them the best possible chance to play at the highest level possible for their next event. This is important as sometimes we need to compete and play golf a number of times in close succession. Continuous rounds of golf require a good recovery strategy to continue a high level of play.

There are four main areas that need to be addressed in a good recovery program. Each of these areas is important and needs to be completed effectively for the recovery to be beneficial to the golfer.

The first area is re-hydration which is arguably the most important. During practice, play, or training fluid is lost. These lost levels of fluid need to be replaced as dehydration has a serious effect upon golf performance.

The second area that must be covered is the refuelling of the golfer’s body. Again, as golfers compete or train, energy is used and needs to be replaced. Energy replacement needs to occur as soon as possible after the completion of a round or practice session. All golfers should be educated to eat or have to a sports drink as soon as possible after the round.

Physical therapies also need to be covered in a recovery program. Flexibility is an extremely important for a golfer to be able to swing the golf club effectively and as such, it needs to be addressed in recovery. Stretching after a round will assist in reducing the likelihood of injury and ensure the golfer can compete or practice on consecutive days as is needed in a tournament situation. There are other physical therapies that may be used during recovery. Techniques such as hydrotherapy, sports massage and acupuncture may all be used in a recovery situation.

The final area that needs to be covered is psychological recovery. When an athlete competes, psychological fatigue occurs as well as physical fatigue. The levels of psychological fatigue may be even greater in sports such as golf where concentration needs to be high during competition. Techniques such as imagery, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation may be used during recovery to “reset” an athlete after competition. By being able to complete the days performance, whether it was good or bad, will assist in a fresh start for the next competition.

In my next blog post I will outline some specific strategies and protocols that you can use to add recovery to your golf training program.
Until next time,

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

PGA Professional

Training & Education Coordinator
PGA Centre For Learning Performance
Melborne, Victoria, Australia

Email: [email protected]

 

Fitness Archives

Recovery Strategies

Recovery Strategies  In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible...

read more

Recovery

Recovery  This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even...

read more

TEAM MFG BLOG

Subscribe

Never miss a new post, article, or video!
Subscribe to our newsletter Chip Shots!

How To Check Your Joint Range of Motion

Fitness

How To Check Your Joint Range of Motion

It is important in a good golf swing to be able to move with freedom and speed. Having a body that is capable of this type of movement means that more power can be generated and a more consistent and reliable swing can be created. One important part of having a free and powerful golf swing is to make sure that your body has normal range of motion in its joints. Range of motion is how far you can move individual joints in different directions and it is important that your movement is in the normal range for each joint. If your range of motion is not in the normal range you need to stretch the particular joint to increase the movement. This will move you back into the normal range and, as well as making it easier for you to swing, will decrease the likelihood of you being injured.
As I have mentioned in previous blog posts the best way to determine if your joint range of motion is an issue is to go and visit a golf specific physiotherapist or trainer and have them assess your body and design a training program for you. I also understand that sometimes this is not possible for a number of reasons. One reason that I faced as a coach was when I was coaching in China. Golf is a relatively new sport in China and with the language barriers I faced and the lack of golf specific specialists I did my own research and designed my own evaluation and stretching program. Below is a video of one of my Chinese students completing all of the range of motion tests that I was using when coaching there. As you can see there are a number of tests and I will explain some of the tests that I feel are most important below.

Spinal Rotation Test:
As a golfer if you have restricted movement in your spine you will find it difficult to make an effective golf swing. Lack of flexibility in this area may result in incorrect or reduced rotation as well as making it difficult to swing with an effective swing path.
The Test:
Lie on your back with your knees in the air. Slowly lower your legs to one side. If you have normal range of motion in your spine you should be able to lay your legs on the ground while keeping your opposite shoulder on the ground. Repeat on the opposite side.

Stretches to Improve Your Range of Motion:
Trunk rotation stretch
Apley Scratch Test:
This test is to assess if you have adequate range of motion in your shoulders. This test will assess both internal and external rotation of the shoulder joint. Tightness in these joints can have an influence on your backswing and follow through as well as making it difficult to swing on plane.
The Test:
Reach over your shoulder and attempt to touch the top inside corner of your opposite shoulder blade. Then reach behind your back and attempt to touch the lower part of your opposite shoulder blade. The first test measures your external rotation while the second test measures your internal rotation. The further you are from your shoulder blade the less range of motion you have.

Stretches to Improve Your Range of Motion:
Medial shoulder rotator stretch
Lateral shoulder rotator stretch
Arm Raise Test:
This test is used to measure two common issues in golfers, tight latissimus dorsi muscles and a tight thoracic spine. Problems in this area will also make it difficult to complete an effective back swing and follow through and may result in swing plane compensations.
The Test:
Stand with your heels approximately one foot from a wall with your butt, back and head touching the wall. Have a partner check the amount of lower back curve you have and then raise your arms in the air. You should be able to move your arms back towards the wall while keeping the same amount of lower back curve. If you can’t do this, chances are you have tight latissimus dorsi muscles. If you are unable to keep your head against the wall whilst completing this test there is a chance you have thoracic spine tightness.

Stretches to Improve Your Range of Motion:
Latissimus dorsi stretch
Foam roller mobilization
(Note: if you test positive for tightness in the lower spine, please see your doctor to check for spinal arthritis before starting any stretching exercises. Mobilization exercises with spinal arthritis may result in fracture of the spine and serious injury and pain.)
These tests and exercises would be a good start for all golfers as it is important to understand that even if you have normal range of motion in your joints now, it would be wise to develop a stretching program to maintain your flexibility levels. Good flexibility will assist you in making a good golf swing as well as reduce the likelihood of injury from playing golf.

Until next time,
Brent

Links for stretches

Trunk rotation stretch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuuZalrYoQE

Medial shoulder rotator stretch: internal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpC3hlOL2i4

External: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMR66UZito0

Lateral shoulder rotator stretch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z95rp-mKfR8

Latissimus dorsi stretch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yjGtlJ6NSg

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

PGA Professional

Training & Education Coordinator
PGA Centre For Learning Performance
Melborne, Victoria, Australia

Email: [email protected]

 

Fitness Archives

Recovery Strategies

Recovery Strategies  In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible...

read more

Recovery

Recovery  This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even...

read more

TEAM MFG BLOG

Subscribe

Never miss a new post, article, or video!
Subscribe to our newsletter Chip Shots!

Progressing Your Fitness Program

Fitness

Progressing Your Fitness Program

The topic of this blog post is progression of your fitness program. One of the most common things I experience with my clients is that they sign up for a fitness program, go through an evaluation, get a written program tailored to their needs and then either don’t do the program on a regular basis or continue doing the same set of exercises over and over again. Both of these things are a recipe for failure and frustration in achieving your fitness goals.

Everybody who starts a fitness program has a level of fitness that is personal to them. That is why we do an evaluation before designing a program. This initial level is neither good nor bad; it just is what it is. It is only a starting point and, if you view it as that, you will have a much better chance of improving. By measuring this starting point your fitness professional is able to design a personalised program for you that will allow you to exercise without getting injured and will put you on the path towards a fitter stronger body.  Stronger bodies make it easier to make more repeatable golf swings.

Now that you have a program, we need to discuss why progression is so important. Good programs are designed to gradually progress your overall strength and fitness level.  As you complete exercises your body adapts to the load that is being put upon it and gets fitter and stronger. If you do not continue to make the load more difficult by lifting more weight or making the exercise more challenging you will tend to plateau and not see the gains for your effort. By gradually increasing the amount of weight you are lifting you will continue to challenge your body and it will continue to adapt and grow. This is the main reason why there needs to be a progression element to your fitness training program.

Another reason why you want to have a progression and change the element to your fitness training program is the fact that you want to challenge yourself and keep yourself interested in your training. It can be easy to become bored with your program if you are doing the same things over and over and you may become stale and lose the motivation to exercise and continue to achieve your fitness goals.  By monitoring and adjusting your program you will not get bored and will continue to stay motivated giving  you a much better chance of seeing improvement in yourself.

 

The pictures that are shown above are of the same golfer that I have coached in the past over a period of time. It clearly shows a drastic improvement in her ability to maintain a good bridge posture and an increase in her strength as she is able to add weight in the second picture. This golfer struggled to complete even basic, body weight, exercises when she first started training with me. However, through hard work and determination she gradually improved her ability to complete the exercises we prescribed for her. She slowly added more weight and made the exercise more difficult and she is now a very fit and strong golfer.

This is a classic example of the improvement you can make to your level of fitness and strength by persevering, being dedicated, working hard and applying the progression theory to your training.

Until next time,

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

Brent Davis

PGA Professional

Training & Education Coordinator
PGA Centre For Learning Performance
Melborne, Victoria, Australia

Email: [email protected]

 

Fitness Archives

Recovery Strategies

Recovery Strategies  In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you could use for each area to give you the best possible...

read more

Recovery

Recovery  This post is on a golf fitness topic that is often overlooked by golfers as not being very important to playing better golf. Today I will be talking about recovery and how it relates specifically to golfers who are playing golf several times a week or even...

read more

TEAM MFG BLOG

Subscribe

Never miss a new post, article, or video!
Subscribe to our newsletter Chip Shots!

Pin It on Pinterest