Performance Enhancing Drugs and Golf

The PGA Tour had its first golfer test positive for performance enhancing drugs. Details were not provided due to the tour's privacy policy. The player in question is Doug Barron, not a big name, and a player who has struggled with a variety of health issues over the years. He played little on the tour this year.

Although Tiger Woods has elevated fitness in the minds of many tour players over the last decade, it is really not from the standpoint of hitting the ball further. He was a very long hitter when he first arrived on tour, but decided to approach his profession as a professional athlete, and prepare accordingly. This was to avoid injury more than anything else. Golf can be pretty tough on the body, and we have seen many great players suffer from a variety of ailments over the years.

Can performance enhancing drugs help your golf game? Doubtful. Can it help you hit the ball further? Certainly, if you get a lot stronger. Just look at many of the participants in the world long drive competitions these days. Many are built like NFL safeties or small linebackers. But, in 2008, the World Championship was won by a small Canadian weighing less than 165 pounds.

However, steroids are not going to help your putting or your short game. That is where you score. And the fact is, you really do not need steroids to hit the ball further. Most people need to become more flexible first, so they have a longer, more fluid golf swing. Then a little strengthening and some core work can help add a bit more swing speed.

So, stick with the more natural ways of gaining strength, and you will see a benefit to your golf game.

Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net