What Can Be S A I D About The Golf Swing

What can be S.A.I.D. about the Golf

Swing?





Probably the question that first comes to your mind when you read this title is: what is

S.A.I.D. and how does it help my golf game? The reality is that S.A.I.D. is very

connected to your golf swing and is a very important principle if you want to hit the ball

farther and lower your scores.

Before introducing S.A.I.D. let us discuss improvement in the game of golf. Improving

your golf game requires developing several disciplines. Generally speaking you must

develop proper swing mechanics, practice every aspect of the game (putting, short game,

chipping, pitching, short irons, long irons, fairway woods, and driver), develop your

course management skills, play practice rounds, create understanding for the nuances of

the game, develop confidence, and finally develop your body.

Understand that the entire list of golf disciplines works as a unit to improve your golf

game. No one facet can be eliminated from this list without having an effect on your

overall improvement. For example, if I were never to practice putting, how well would I

play? I may play great from tee to green, but when it comes to putting, look for my scores

to go through the roof.

The last discipline mentioned was your body. Quite often this is the forgotten aspect of

improving your golf game, but it is equally important. Let me ask you a question. What

swings your driver? Some answers may be your swing. In reality, your body swings the

club. Yes, your body swings the club, not the other way around. Developing your body in

relation to the swing allows for a foundation to be created. This foundation is where you

are able to develop the proper mechanics of the swing.

If your body does not have the needed flexibility, balance, coordination, or power to

swing a club, how well are you going to swing a driver? Not very well. If your body is

weak and inflexible developing an optimal swing will be next to impossible.

The development of the body in relation to the swing is where S.A.I.D. comes into play.

S.A.I.D. refers to the principle of specific adaptation to imposed demands. This

principle states that the body will adapt to the demands of the training stimulus but will

not adapt beyond the scope of that training stimulus (NSCA Strength and Conditioning

Journal, pg. 18, August, 2005).

Did I loose you in that last paragraph?

Let me explain. This principle pertains to developing the bodys level of fitness in

relation to any sport or activity. For example, if I were to perform a bicep curl with a

25-pound dumbbell 15 times the curl could be difficult in the beginning, but over time it

would get easier and eventually I could crank out 15 repetitions with no problem. This is

a result of my body adapting (muscles getting stronger) to the resistance placed on my

body by the dumbbell.

Now here is the kicker, if I continued to only lift a 25-pound dumbbell over the period of

a year what do you think would happen? I like to use the phrase diminishing returns to

explain this situation. Once the body adapts to a resistance, the body plateaus and does

not get stronger. At this point it can even get weaker!

Now how does this pertain to golf? Think about it for a moment. Greater distance off the

tee is always a desire of every amateur playing the sport. Amateurs go to great length to

hit the ball 20, 10, or even 5 yards farther. They will buy new drivers, new golf balls,

new anything! Now if an amateurs clubhead speed is somewhere around 85 mph, how is

that clubhead speed going to improve with a new driver or new ball? The answer is it

will not.

Hypothetically, lets assume you have fairly efficient swing mechanics. How are you

going to increase your clubhead speed? (Remember clubhead speed stays the same even

if you buy a new driver.) Someway or somehow you are going to have to generate

greater clubhead speed.

Increasing the efficiency with which you swing the club is one way. But the efficiency

with which you swing a club has an end point, and once that end point is reached it wont

go any farther. What is the other way by which you can increase your clubhead speed?

Implementing a golf fitness program into your routine can help.

A golf fitness program will develop the foundation to improve your swing mechanics.

This type of program will develop your flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, and

endurance capacities to improve your swing.

Additionally, it can develop greater clubhead speed. Clubhead speed is a result of

power development. Power development is contingent upon your swing mechanics and

body. Improving the power outputs of your body will enhance your clubhead speed. And

greater clubhead speed equates to greater distance on your drives.

If you have never developed a level of golf fitness, your body is set at a certain level of

power-generating capabilities. Until you force the body to increase its power-generating

capabilities through the S.A.I.D. principle, your club head speed will stay the same. A

golf fitness program will place resistance on your body forcing it to adapt and improve

its power capabilities. The end result will be greater clubhead speed, and that can

equate to longer drives.

Looking for a golf-specific fitness program to improve your clubhead speed? Look no

further than my manual Your Body & Your Swing. This program is filled with golf-

specific flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power exercises to enhance your

golf swing. My program implements the S.A.I.D. principle with the goal of improving

your scores and your driving distances.

About The Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today.

He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil

Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing

improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website

www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at

support@bioforcegolf.com.