Golf Fitness and Performance

What is Golf Fitness?

In 1995 Tiger Woods changed the golf world when he announced he was turning pro. Prior to that, it was rare to find golfers who did any sort of exercise. Gary Player, an avid fitness buff, was considered an oddity. In the March 4, 2006 issue of GolfWeek, Davis Love III stated that when he was younger, his father made him stop playing basketball because the basketball coach wanted him to lift weights and it was thought that lifting would ruin his golf swing. Now, Love rarely misses a day in the gym. Professional, amateur and recreational golfers utilize golf fitness to compete, and to avoid injury.

Who would benefit from golf fitness? Professional golfers undertake fitness programs to compete on the various golf tours, but golf fitness is not only for the professional golfer. Golf fitness is for anyone who desires to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of their golf swing. Amateur and recreational golfers find that golf fitness allows them to play better, have less discomfort and avoid injuries. Golfers of all ages can benefit as well. Younger golfers, though very flexible, can lack the strength required to maintain stability through the golf swing. Older golfers lose distance as they lose the flexibility that is essential for a powerful golf swing. Male golfers have different problems than female golfers. Regardless of their skill level, there are three categories of golfers who would benefit from the Performance Golf Analysis Program:

Golfers who have no injuries but want to enhance their golf performance.
Golfers who are playing despite an injury.
Golfers who are unable to golf due to a nagging injury.

Is golf fitness only for better golfers?

No. The Performance Golf Analysis Program is very beneficial for golfers of all skill levels. In fact, higher handicap golfers typically do very well with the program and can see significant changes in their handicap.

Why should I use the Performance Golf Analysis program?

Dr. Lavin is certified by the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) as a Golf Fitness Instructor. He has trained with TPI's co-founders, Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips who appear on The Golf Channel's "Golf Fitness Academy" as well as other great instructors like Gray Cook, author of "Athletic Body in Balance." Dr. Lavin utilizes his training from the TPI to properly evaluate each golfer and design a program that is specific to their individual needs. Titleist has put millions of dollars into developing this program to help golfers play better while avoiding injury. For you, this means more enjoyment and satisfaction from golf.

Why not just download exercises from the internet?

Anyone can download plenty of golf specific exercises from the internet, but you must understand that those exercises, though golf specific, will not be GOLFER specific. It is unlikely that the downloaded exercises will meet your specific needs. Furthermore, the general exercises might strengthen already strong areas, while missing weak areas. This can cause even greater problems, resulting in decay of your golf game and even injury. The Performance Golf Analysis Program will create an exercise program that is designed for your specific needs. A re-evaluation will determine if you should continue with your original series of specific exercises or if you are ready for a new set of specific exercises.

How does Dr. Lavin Evaluate Golfers?

Dr. Lavin utilizes the following approaches to evaluate golfers:

‰ Functional Movement Screen: to determine if the golfer has difficulty with mobility, stability or coordination that will affect their ability to golf effectively.

‰ Selective Functional Movement Assessment: to determine the root of any injuries that might be preventing a golfer from playing well or even from getting on the course.

‰ High Speed Video: to evaluate the golfers swing technique and detect any swing flaws that they might have.

‰ 3-Dimensional Motion Analysis: using the same K-Vest System that is used by David Leadbetter at the Leadbetter Golf Academy, this system allows visualization of swing efficiency and evaluation of swing sequence, timing and speed.

Will Dr. Lavin teach me golf skills?

No. Dr. Lavin is NOT a PGA trained teaching professional. In fact, if you do not already receive instruction, it is likely that Dr. Lavin will recommend a teaching pro for you. The teaching pro will teach you HOW to golf. The Performance Golf Analysis program will help your body perform the movements that a teaching pro asks of you. Dr. Lavin has a network of qualified teaching professionals to whom you can be referred.

What if I am already dealing with an injury? In the event that you are experiencing an injury, Dr. Lavin will perform a Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) to determine the root of your injury. Treatment and self help can then be targeted at the cause of the injury so that you can get back on the course as quickly as possible.

Will I need a gym membership or a lot of expensive equipment to do the exercises? No. The Performance Golf Analysis program utilizes simple and inexpensive tools such as Swiss Gym Balls, balance pads and functional movement tubing. No gym memberships or expensive equipment will be required. The recommended exercises can be done safely in your own home.

Will the exercises take a lot of time?

The program that you will receive from Performance Golf Analysis will be designed to allow you to do your exercises in 30, 60 or 90 minutes, depending on your desires.

Where can Dr. Lavin evaluate me?

Dr. Lavin can either evaluate you in his Castro Valley office or at the driving range at your home golf course.